Half to frederick a



(No Model.)

IVI. W. WHITE.

VIOLIN.

Patented June 21,1898.

UNTTnn TnTns PATENT @Tirreno MAURICE lV. VHITE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I'IALF TO FREDERICK A. SUCK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VIOLEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,942, dated Tune 21, 1898.

Application filed August '7, 1897. Serial No. 647,409. (No model To all whom t may concern: v The bass-bar f, as constructed and applied Be it known that I, MAURICE W'. WHITE, in accordance with my invention, is provided of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and with two end portions f2 f2 and a middle por- State of h/Iassachusetts,haveinvented certain tion separated from the end portions along 5 new and useful Improvements in Violins, of the line of attachment to the belly by two re- 55 which the following is a specification. cesse's f fC A bridge of wood spans each of This invention relates to violins and kint-hese recesses and connects the middle pordred instruments, and more particularly to tion of the bar to the end portion, thus makthe construction oi the bass-bar in such ining a continuous bar. The end portions f2 ro struments. extend from the points 2 and G toward and 6o 'The invention has for its object to improve nearly to the end blocks m and n and are sethe resonant qualities of a violin or similar curely aflixed to the belly. The bar is sepainstrument by increasing the amplitude of rated from the belly between the points 2 and vibration of the belly of theinstrument. This 8 and the points 6 and 9 and isagain securely 15 object is 'accomplished by a peculiar formaaflixed thereto between the points S and 9. 65 tion of the bass-bar, which I shall now pro- Each of the end portions f2 constitutes a foot ceed to describe in detail and then point out or brace for the middle portion of the bar, in the claims hereto appended. which assists said middle portion in resisting Of the accompanying drawings, forming a the downward pressure exerted by the bridge zo part of this application, Figure l represents c when the strings are tightened. The arch 7o a perspective view of the reverse side of a of the belly a is thereby greatly strengthened violin-belly provided with my improved bassand the elasticity or rebounding power of the bar. Fig. 2 represents va longitudinal vertibelly is improved, with the result that there cal section of the violin. Fig. 3 represents a is a great increase in the volume of the tones 25 transverse section thereof. produced when the strings are bowed. 75

The same reference characters indicate the The letters a: .fr in Fig. 2 designate a line same parts in all the gures. joining the ends of the belly a and forming Referring to the drawings, a designates the the chord of the arch of said belly. I have violin-belly; l), the back; c, the bridge, and found that the best results are obtained when 3o d the sound-post, located under or nearly unthe recesses f f in the bass bar extend 8o der the right foot of the bridge. The bassslightly below this line, as shown. bar f is aflixed to the belly under the left foot In addition to its vibrations as a whole the of the bridge and extends longitudinally of belly of a violin also vibrates in a series of the violin for nearly the whole length of the segments each time the strings are bowed. 3 5 belly. These segmental vibrations are instrumental 85 7c designates the neck of the violin, h the in producing the harmonic tones which actailpiece, lthe tailpiece-button, and g the loop company any fundamental tone in the violin. of gut joining the two latter, all of which parts Some of the vibrating segments have a greater are constructed in the usual manner. influence upon the quality of the full tone 4o For the sake of illustration I have reprethan others, and I have ascertained that the 9o sented the belly a, between the right end segments corresponding in position tothe reblook m in Fig. 2 and the bridge c, as divided cesses f f are the most important -in their ott into three equal parts or spaces 1 2, 2 3, effect upon the tone. When these recesses and 3 4 and the space between the bridge are absent in a bar of the same shape and size 45 and the left-end block@ as divided oft in like as the one shown, the bar being attached 95 manner into three equal parts 4 5, 5 6, and 6 7. throughout its whole length t0 the belly, cer

The numeral S designates a point half-way tain of the tones produced are nasal in qualbetween the bridge and the block lm, and the ity; but with the recesses present the nasal numeral 9 designates a corresponding point quality disappears and full round tones are 5o half-way between the bridge and the block n. produced. The bar f is reduced in depth imroo inediately below the points 3 and 5, as I find that this is necessary in order 'to give the best tone effects.

Bass-bars constructed in the manner above described Will be found to be very effectual in new violins, and also in old instruments where the original bar was intended for low pitch and has to be replaced on account of the higher pitch to which violins are noW tuned.

My invention is also applicable to other instruments of the violin class, such as violoncellos, bass-viols, dsc.

I claiml. In a violin or similar instrument, a bassbar having end portions each consisting of a foot or brace attached to the belly of the instrument and extending from a point adjacent to the end block to a point distant therefrom one-third of the inside length of the bellybetwcen said end block and the bridge, and a middle portion attached to the belly, the bar being separated from the belly between the middle portion and the end portions.

2. In a violin or similar instrument, a bassbar extending Vfor substantially the whole length of the belly of the instrument and attached thereto at all portions of its own length excepting two portions, each of which begins at a point distant from the end block onethird of the inside length of the belly between the end block and the bridge, and ending at a point nearer the bridge.

3. In a violin or similar instrument, an arched belly, in combination with a bass-bar attached along its middle and end portions to the belly and having at each end a recess forming a gap in the line of attachment which extends from a point distant from the end block one-third of the inside length of the belly between the end block and bridge to a point distant from said end block one-hall' of that length, the said recesses extending on either side oi' the straight line joining the ends of the belly.

et. In a violin or similar instrument, a bass bar having reduced portions each distant from the bridge one-third of the inside length of the belly between said bridge and Vthe end block and having two recesses forming gaps in the line of attachment between said reduced portions and the ends of the bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence ot' tivo subscribing Witnesses, this 4th day ol.' August, A. D. 1807.

MAURICE IV. IVIIITE.

Vitnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. IL/nnnson. 

